We are parents who raise our children in fear, and all of the parents of the world can mind their own business, and we will mind ours.
During our first four children’s growing up years, we were mocked because we were so overly protective. None of our children were permitted to roam freely in the world, and were watched over continuously to make sure they did not stray and were free to grow-up without abuse. As they grew older, and their maturity level increased, the areas of the natural life they could participate in broadened, but we continued to watch, limit, worry and pray as they were exposed to the wicked things in the world that could destroy them if care was not taken
Now, twenty years later, we’re raising three more beautiful children of our LORD God. We are even more protective today, as we homeschool them and watch over them and limit them to only the things we choose is good and righteous for them. They do not get to do many of the things the children of the world get to do, because their participation in those activities would bring harm to them.
Now before you start uttering that same mockery that we have heard so many times before that we are raising our children in fear, let me warn you, we are.
Where the children of the world can run free to the places of nature that make them happy, my children are restricted to the places where their spirit is fed. Where the natural children prosper and grow in the safety of a common world, our children are in danger of being hurt and changed in that same world. Where the “normal and free” children are not limited by rules or force, our children must abide by our rules established by us and the LORD God we serve.
It isn’t fair. Sometimes it makes me sad that we have to be so protective, when the neighborhood children can run free at night, without supervision, and no worries from their parents about what they’re doing. Sometimes it makes me angry that we live in a world that many would want great harm to come to our children, to destroy the things of God before they even develop.
Job was angry about the same thing…
7 ¶ Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses [are] safe from fear, neither [is] the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.” (Job 21:7-14 KJV)
The wicked were safe from fear, because they did not have the rod of God upon them. They didn’t have to live by His rules nor His discipline, and were not accountable to His Laws, thus, they had no fear, and were safe.
They could send their little children out like a flock of sheep, and the children could dance and sing and be free, and joy could result. They didn’t have to worry about the wicked attacks coming to them, because they belonged to the world they danced in.
We and our children do not. We are raising them for our Kingdom, not the World that belongs to others. Our Kingdom of God, that will one day be established on a New Earth, where our children can finally run free and be able to experience those things that they missed doing in this life that might have elevated their soul even higher to Him. I have a feeling, it won’t be many things missed, if any, as my children are blessed, prosperous and growing daily with the Things of God and His Way.
Kathy L. McFarland, MDiv
